Seprating-machine.



M. A. WASHBURN.

SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLiCATION FILED AUG.I4. um.

m m K1, 1% mm k S H mm Mn MM F. V dH W01 m m WM a P mm M. A. WASHBURN.

SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 1917.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m m mm M] & A TTORNEY MJA. WASHBURN.

SEP ARATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.I4, 1917.

Patented. Feb. 12, 1918.

M. A. WASHBURN.

SEPARATING MACHINE. v APPLICATION FILED AUG. I4, IQH- Patehted Feb.12,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I fig ATTORNEY M. ADELBERT WASHBURN, 0F FAIRPORT, NEW YORK.

SEPABATIN G-MACHIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1%118.

Application filed August 14, 1917. Serial No. 186,119.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, M. ADELBERT WASH- BURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairport, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Separating-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention, while relating to machines or other apparatus for separating fruit or vegetables according to sizes, has more especial reference to machines of such character particularly adaptable for separating or grading apples.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described that will be simple and strong in construction, that will separate the fruit according to sizes rapidly and without injury, and that will be so compact in design as to occupy but a minimum amount of space.

Another object of the invention is to first remove the select or first grade of apples then the second grade and so on, and in this manner the larger the apple the shorter the distance it will have to travel through the machine withl the consequent less liability of in ury.

Another object is to provide the receiving and the discharging hoppers with flexible bottoms comprisinggrids formed of tightly strung cords which will allow leaves and dirt to drop through and which will not bruise the fruit when discharged thereon.

Another object is to provide an inexpensive and yet highly eificient conveying and separating element and, in combination therewith, an improved form of agitator.

These and other objects relating to details of construction will be more clearly brought out in the following description and particularly defined in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrating my invention are as follows Figure l is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the frame work, as seen from the'side toward the observer in Fig. 1, showing the position of the chutes upon which the apples are dropped from the perforated conveying members.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1 of the hopper from which the apples are fed to the machine.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the machine asseen from the side toward the observer in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional detail of the outer end of the first discharge hopper.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the machine as seen from the right with respect to Fig. 4.

Figs. 8 and 9 are face views showing por- -t1ons of a guide roller and its corresponding drive roller, respectively.

Fig. 10 shows in plan view portions of two adjacent chains of one of the conveying belts and a portion of an agitating roller.

Fig. 11 shows the chain toward the ob server in Fig. 10 in side view and the portion of the roller in end View.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional detail on the line 1212 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of one of the drive rollers with a portion of its conveying belt or chains in operative engagement therewith.

The chains forming the conveying belts are indicated, as in side view, by heavy broken lines in Figs. 4, 7 and 12 and, where shown in plan or end view, as in Figs. 1, 4 and 7, are indicated diagrammatically.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The machine is provided with an open frame construction. This frame 1 is practically square and consists of upright corner members 2, intermediate side and end upright members 3 and 4, respectively, and suitable connecting cross bars 5 and 6 at the top and bottom, respectively.

Pivotally connected to one of the left hand corner uprights, with respect to Figs. 1 and 4, and to the upright 4 in the same side of the frame are the inner ends of the side walls of the feeding hopper 7 having connecting cross bars 8 and 9 between which cords are strung under tension forming a flexible grid 10 comprising a bottom for the hopper and upon which the apples or other fruit or vegetables may be dumped without injury, and through which the leaves, sticks and dirt will fall. The hopper 7. is supported by arms 11 pivoted to the outer ends of the side walls and having their inner ends engaging any suitable means, as the bearing blocks 12, on the frame members 2 and 4-. These blocks 12 are formed with a series of steps against which the-inner ends of the arms 11 engage and whereby the pitch of the hopper may be altered.

While it is understood that the machine may be used for separating fruit other than apples, it is intended primarily as an apple grader and for this reason when referring to fruit upon the machine I will speak of it as being apples.

The apples are fed from the hopper 7 to a perforated conveying belt 13, indicated by heavy broken lines in Figs. 4 and 12, WlllCh travels in the direction of the arrow -a2-, and those of greater diameter than the perforations in the conveying member are delivered therefrom to the downwardly inclined discharge hopper 14 having its side walls pivotally connected at their inner ends to the outwardly projecting ends of the frame members 15 and provided with a flexible bottom 16 formed of cords similar to and in the manner described with reference to the hopper 7. This hopper 14 is supported by side arms 17 pivoted to the side walls thereof and having their inner ends engaging studs 18, Fi 7, in frame members 1 and 3, a plurality 0 such studs being provided in order that the hopper may be inclined a greater or less degree. Near the outer ends of the side walls are openings 19, one of which is seen in Fig. 6, which are normally closed by hinged cover members 20; and at 21, Fig. 1, is seen a V-sha ed member for directing the apples towar such openings.

By having the two openings a barrel or other receptacle can be placed beneath each one and the apples allowed to fall into one or the other, or both.

While any suitable perforated conveying belt may be employed with a machine constructed in accordance with my invention, I prefer to make use of one such as shown in the drawings and which will now be described.

The conveying element by which the apples are separated according to sizes comprises a pluralit of endless chains 22 arranged side by side but with their links 23 in staggered relation (see Fig. 10) and each of these links 23 is formed with an offset portion 24 and diametrically opposite such portion with an eye 25 having a short downward projection 26, the eye 25 of one link engaging over the offset portion 24 of the one next to it and so on to form a complete chain 22. V

These chains 22 engage over a drive roller 27 secured to a shaft 28 and in the periphery of such roller are openings 29 to receive the projections 26 whereby the chains are driven. They also engage over three guide rollers 30 freely revoluble on studs or shafts secured in bearing blocks on the upright frame members 2 and 4. The cycle of the chains, which together form the endless conveyingbelt 13, is around a substantially rectangular course and they are held practically taut by the rollers 30 which are profalling through when in one position might do so if turned to another position, I prefer to make use of one or more squaresided rollers 32,--tW0 being shown in the drawings one of which is freely revoluble on a shaft 33 supported in the side walls 34 of the chute .35 while the other is similarly mounted on a shaft carried by brackets 36 supported from bars 37 continuing from the side walls 34. The edges of the agitating rollers 32 are provided with strips of felt 38 so as not to cut or bruise the fruit and the faces are channeled at 39, as indicated in Figs. 5, 10 and 11, to form recesses in which the projections 26 on the links 23 of the chains engage to effect rotation of the rollers. Any suitable driving means may be employed for the agitating rollers although I have found that by having them freely revoluble the projections 26 cause them to turn and operate very effectively.

Between the two rollers 32, 32 I have provided another form of agitator or displacing member which comprises a bar 40. having a flat surface upwardly inclined in the direction of travel of the chains and by means of which an apple protruding through one link will be raised out of such link as it passes over the bar 40 and caused to drop into another one. This bar will of course be slotted to permit free passage of the projections 26.

The edges of the outer chains 22 of the conveying belt 13 ride on ledges which, referrin to Figs. 5 and 12, are formed by the top e ges of the side walls 34 of the chute 35 and by the connecting pieces 37; and se- 30 to the drive roller 27 and extending from the left hand side of the frame, with reference to Figs. 2 and 4, to the intermediate upright members 3 is the chute 35 havin a bottom 42 and side walls 34, the latter being above mentioned, and apples dropping from r the separating member 13 to such chute will be delivered therefrom to another separating memes member or conveying belt 43. This member is similar to the one 13 already described but is at right angles thereto and the links of the several chains are of less diameter. It

engages overv a drive roller 44, which like the roller 27 is provided with openings in its periphery to receive the driving pro ecwhile its free end engages either the frame piece 71 or one of the short rods 48 thereon according to the pitch desired for the hopper.

The apples of less diameter than that of the rings of the separating member 43 will fall therethrough to a chute 49 from which they are delivered to a third separating member or conveying belt 50 similar to the members 13 and 43 but with fewer chains and with the links forming the chains of less diameter than those of the member 43. This conveying belt 5.0 is at right angles to the belt 43 and on the opposite side of the machine from the belt 13 and travels in the opposite direction. It en ages over a drive roller 51 and grooved gulde rollers 52 corresponding with the guide rollers 30 and a of the meimbers 13 and 43, respectively.

Apples, W iich I will designate as the third grade, not falling through the links of the separating member are delivered therefrom to a hopper 53 similar to the hopper 46 except that but one discharge opening is provided which is in the end wall and is normallly closed by the hinged cover member 54. The supporting arm 55 may be positioned, as the arm 47, on a frame piece 6 or on one of the short rods 56 thereon to secure a proper pitch for the hopper.

The fourth grade of apples or culls, that is those falling through the separating member 50, drop upon a chute 57 from which they are delivered to a chute 58 at right angles to the chute 57 and from which they are discharged into a receptacle at the end thereof.

It will of course be understood that the separating members 43 and 50 have agitating rollers 32 and displacement bars 40 similar to those described with reference to the member 13. Also, the apples on the separating member 43 are retained by side frame pieces 59 to the projecting outer ends of which the hopper 46 is pivotally connected, and the apples on the separating member .are retained by side frame pieces 60 to the projecting outer ends of which the hopper 53 is pivotally connected. As clearly till shown in the drawings, the bottoms of the hoppers 46 and 53 are grids formed by cords in the manner described with reference to the hoppers 7 and 14.

Any suitable means for driving the several conveying belts from a common drive shaft may be used and I do not limit my invention to any particular method. In the drawings, however, I have shown an operating crank 61 secured to the shaft 62 on which is fixed the drive roller 44 for the second belt 43, and the means of driving the several conveying belts from the shaft 62 is a rope belt 63. This belt engages over a pulley 64 on the drive shaft 62, then over and under similar pulleys 65 and 66 on the shafts 28 and 67 for the drive rollers 27 and 51, respectively; and, in order to give the belt proper tension and guide .it, the belt is caused to engage idlers 68, 69 and 70 revoluble on studs carried by frame members of the machine. The direction traveled by the conveying belts 13, 43 and 50 is indicated by the arrows at, 3,1 and a, respectively, in Figs. 4, 7, 12 and 13.

The operation of the machine is as follows The several hoppers are given the proper pitch to best discharge apples therefrom. The apples to be graded are placed in the feeding hopper 7 from which they are fed to the separating member or conveying belt 13 and from such latter member the select or first grade are delivered to the discharge hopper 14 and then through one or the otheror both of the openings 19 drop into suitable receptacles beneath such openings. The apples falling through the member 13 are delivered from the chute 35 to the separating member 43 from which the second gradeare delivered to the hopper 46 and then, as from the hopper 14, to suitable receptacles. The apples falling through the member 43 are delivered from the chute 49 thereunder to the third separating member 50 and the third grade of apples are delivered therefrom to the hopper 53, while the culls or fourth grade are delivered from the chute 57 under the member 50 to the second chute 58 and from there into a receptacle placed in position to receive them. The machine is shown as manually operable although a pulley may be substituted for the crank 61 and driven from any suitable source of power. Provision may be made, if desired, whereby the feeding hopper 7- may be removed and attached to the frame at the opposite side from the discharge hopper 46 and feed directly to the conveying belt 43, thus elimi nating the separating member 13 when fewer grades of apples are called for.

It is believed that from the foregoing the construction, operation and purpose of the separating machine are sufficiently clear to call for no further explanation herein.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a supporting frame of a perforated conveying and separating member, means for displacing articles protruding through the said perforations comprising an angular roller, a support for the roller, and projections on the said conveying member adapted to engage the said roller and cause the same to revolve.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a supporting frame of 1 aperforated conveying and separating member, means for displacing articles protruding through the said perforations comprising a square sided roller, a support for the roller, and projections on the said conveying member adapted to engage the said roller and cause the same to revolve.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a supporting frame of an endless chain formed of links. means for displacing articlesprotruding through the said links comprising a longitudinally slotted and square sided roller, a support for the roller, and means for revolving the roller comprising projections formed on the said links and adapted to engage in the said slots.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame of rollers revolubly supported on said frame, a conveying and separating member comprising a plurality of independent endless chains with links formed of wire, the links of adjacent chains being arranged in staggered relation, and means for driving the chains.

5. In a machine of the character described the combination with a supporting frame of a driving roller having recesses in 1ts periphcry, a plurality of guide rollers, an endless cham engagin over all of the said rollers and formed 0 wire links, and projections formed on said links adapted to engage in the said recesses in the driving roller for the purpose specified, the guiding rollers being grooved to permit free passage of the said projections.

6. In a machine of the character described the combination with a supporting frame of a drivin roller having recesses in its periphcry, a p urality of guiding rollers, a conveying and separating member comprising a plurality of independent endless chains with links formed of wire engaging over all of the said rollers and with the links of adjacent chains arranged in staggered relation, and projections formed on said links adapted to engage in the said recesses of the driving roller for the purpose specified, the guiding rollers having annular grooves to permit free passage of the said projections and for guiding the chains.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a supporting frame of a drivin roller having recesses in its periphery, a p urality of guiding rollers, a conveying and separating member comprising a plurality of endless chains with links formed of wire and with the links of adjacent chains arranged in staggered relation, and projections formed on said links adapted to engage in the said recesses of the driving roller for the purpose specified.

8. The combination, in a machine of the character described, of a supporting frame,

two endless belts comprising conveying and separating members adapted to travel in diiections transversely of each other and supported one higher than the other with the top or operating portion of the lower belt traveling between the top and bottom of the upper belt, a driving roller and a plurality of guiding rollers for each of said belt-s, and means for effecting rotation of the said driving rollers.

9. The combination, in a machine of the character described, of a supporting frame, two endless belts comprising conveying and separating members adapted to travel in directions transversely of each other and supported. one higher'than the other with the top or operating portion of the lower belt traveling between the top and bottom of the upper belt, a driving roller and a plurality of guiding rollers for each of said belts, means for effecting rotation of the said driving rollers, a feeding hopper for the upper belt, a chute under such belt adapted to deliver articles falling thereon to the lower belt, and a discharge hopper supported to receive articles from each belt.

10. The combination, in a machine of the character described, of a supporting frame, two endless belts comprising conveying and separating members adapted to travel in opposite directions and supported one higher than the other on opposite sides of the machine, an endless belt comprising an intermediate conveying and separating member adapted to travel in a direction transversely of said first named belts, a driving roller and a plurality of guiding rollers for each of said belts, the top or operating portion of said intermediate belt traveling below that of the higher and above that'of the lower of said first named belts, and means for effecting rotation of the said driving rollers.

11. The combination, in a machine of the character described, of a supporting frame, two endless belts comprising conveying and separating members adapted to travel in opposite directions and supported one higher than the other on opposite sides of the machine, an endless belt comprising an intermediate conveying and separating member adapted to travel in a direction transversely of said'first nained belts, a driving roller and a plurality of guiding rollers for each of said belts, the top or operating portion of naaaeee said intermediate belt traveling below that of the higher and above that of the lower of said first named belts, means for effecting rotation of the said driving rollers, a feeding hopper for the higher one of said first named belts, a chute under each of said belts adapted to deliver articles falling thereon to the next lower belt, and a discharge hopper supported to receive articles from each belt.

12. The combination, in a machine of the character described, of a supporting frame, a feeding hopper, a plurality of conveying and separating members supported one above the other and each having a direction of travel transversely to the one next below it, each such separating member comprising a plurality of chains having links formed of Wire; a driving roller and a plurality of guiding rollers for each of said separating members, means for effecting rotation of the driving rollers, cooperating engaging means on the said chains and their respective driving rollers for driving the chains by said rollers, a discharge hopper supported to receive articles from each separating member,

and a chute under each such member adapted to deliver articles falling thereon to the next lower separating member.

13. The combination, in a machine of the character described, of a supporting frame, a feeding hopper, a plurality of conveying and separating members supported one above the other andeach having a direction of travel at right angles to the one next below it, each such separating member comprising a plurality of chains having links formed of Wire; a driving roller and a plurality of guiding rollers for each of said separating members, means for efi'ecting rotation of the driving rollers, cooperating engaging means on the said chains and their respective driving rollers for driving the chains by said rollers, a discharge hopper supported to receive articles from each separating member, and a chute under each such member adapted to deliver articles falling {)hereon to the next lower separating mem- M. ADELBERT WASHBURN. 

